DIDDY CASE: Lawyer Requests $50 Million Bail Again for Diddy to Await Trial at Home

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs once again offered a US$50 million bail on Friday (8), backed by his Florida mansion, in an attempt to secure his release from a Brooklyn jail. He has been detained for eight weeks on criminal charges related to sex trafficking. Since his arrest, Diddy has had bail requests denied three times, with judges expressing concerns that he could interfere with witnesses.

The rapper, who pleaded not guilty on September 17, is accused of using his business empire, including Bad Boy Entertainment, to transport women and male sex workers across state lines to perform recorded sexual acts known as “Freak Offs.”

District Judge Arun Subramanian, overseeing the case, denied Combs’ request to impose a gag order that would limit his accusers from publicly discussing the case. Combs’ defense argues that approximately 30 civil lawsuits accusing him of misconduct or abuse are compromising his right to a fair trial. Diddy, 55, denies any wrongdoing, and his attorneys claim that the sexual activities described by prosecutors were consensual.

In a court filing on Friday, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro requested that Subramanian grant Combs a US$50 million bail, secured by his US$48 million Miami home and supported by family members’ signatures. Shapiro also suggested that Combs be monitored 24/7 by security, placed under house arrest, and prohibited from contacting victims or witnesses. The trial is scheduled for May 5.

In her bail request, Shapiro stated that new evidence has weakened the prosecution’s stance on keeping Combs in detention, citing a fresh perspective on a 2016 security video showing Diddy assaulting former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie. “The video doesn’t prove a forced ‘freak off’ but rather shows a moment within a complex consensual relationship that lasted over a decade,” Shapiro wrote.

Shapiro further argued that Combs is struggling to prepare for trial while detained, due to the large volume of material he needs to review, especially without access to a laptop. She also mentioned that his preparation has been hampered by prison conditions, including frequent lockdowns and the removal of his pens.

According to attorney Alexandra Shapiro, the detention is depriving Diddy of “any real opportunity” to prepare for the trial, violating his constitutional rights.

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